“Are you Trenton Anderson?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Doctor Michaels. Would you like to follow me so we can speak in private?”
“No, this is all family and whatever you have to say, they’re going to need to hear,” he said, staying planted to the spot.
“That’s your choice, Mr. Anderson. We have you listed as emergency contact, so I’ll give you the information and you can relay it. Your father had a mild heart attack known as a Posterior Infarct, also known as Inferior Infarct. There was clogging in one of the branches of his right coronary artery. We were able to help him in time, and his condition is stable right now,” the doctor said.
Bree’s head whipped between her brother and the doctor, not understanding what they were talking about. Posterior Infarct? Inferior Infarct? What the heck? She just needed to see her father, physically see that he was okay.
“What does this mean?” Trenton asked.
“We need to run more test, he may need surgery, but his vitals are steady right now, which is encouraging. He’s in the E.R. so he can only have two visitors at a time, and you need to stay calm and supportive. We don’t want to raise his blood pressure, and if he thinks you’re stressed, it can cause him stress as well.”
“I understand. Can I see him now?”
“Yes, you can bring one person along.”
“Please, Trenton?” Bree asked. He looked at her and held his hand out. She grabbed hold of him and followed the doctor through the double doors.
They made their way down a long white hallway and Bree looked only forward. She could hear weeping from one of the rooms and had to fight the tears choking her throat. She hoped to not have to step foot in another hospital for many years. She knew they saved lives, but being there was draining for her soul.
“Through here. Stay only ten minutes,” the doctor said as he pointed to a closed door. Trenton didn’t hesitate as he quietly pulled the door open.
Bree rapidly blinked her eyes as she saw her larger-than-life father lying in the small hospital bed with wires hanging from his arms. He was so pale, except for his bright red cheeks.
“Dad?” she whispered. If he was sleeping, she didn’t want to wake him, but she really needed to hear the sound of his voice.
“Bree, come here, sweetheart,” he croaked, and she rushed to his bedside and sank into the chair, quickly gripping the hand he held out to her.
“I remember, Dad,” she said, needing to tell him. His eyes widened and brightened beneath the bright hospital lights.
“Ah, Baby, that’s so wonderful. I knew it was only a matter of time.” He knew exactly what she was talking about – of course he did, he was her Dad. She sniffled as she gave him a watery smile.
“I promise you, I’m going to be okay. There’s no way I’m going to leave you kids. Besides, I have a brand new grandchild coming into this world who’s going to need a lot of spoiling,” he said with a gentle smile.
“I love you so much, Dad. Don’t you ever scare me like this again,” Bree demanded.
“I’ll try not to, Princess,” he answered, reverting to what he’d called her when she was just a young girl.
“You gave us all quite a scare, Dad,” Trenton said as he took the seat on the opposite side of the bed.
“Ah, boy, you know your old man’s too tough to let some clogged arteries keep him down. Stinking doctor is trying to blame food and liquor, but give me a week and I’ll be dancing circles around that young punk,” George said.
“I’m coming home and I’ll make sure you stay on any diet the doctor puts you on. You’re not invincible,” Bree gently scolded him.
“I’d love to have you home, Bree, but I’m the parent here,” he tried to sound commanding but couldn’t quite pull it off while lying in a small bed hooked up to machines. Bree arched her eyebrows at him.
“We’ll discuss it later,” Bree promised. She didn’t want to cause him stress right then.
“As much as I want you home, Bree, what will Chad think about that?” George asked.
Bree looked at him for a moment without having an answer. She was confused. She’d only just gotten her memory back and needed to really analyze what had happened since she’d met him. They had moved so quickly in their relationship, constantly under extreme circumstances.
“I honestly don’t know, Dad,” she answered. Even though he was hurt, he was still her father, and he always seemed to have the answers.
“Do you love him?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she replied as she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. There was no point in lying to him.
“Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, your time is up,” a nurse interrupted as she looked in the door.
“Come on, Betsy, they just got here,” George grumbled.
“Don’t you dare sass me, George,” she said and it was obvious the two knew each other well. “Two more minutes,” she compromised before looking pointedly at the clock, then them. She quietly closed the door and Bree had a feeling she was waiting on the outside of it, looking at her watch.
“We better go, Dad. You know the rest of the gang is anxious to get back here. If I’m not mistaken, Esther seemed pretty worried as she paced up and down the hallway,” Trenton said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Don’t you be starting any rumors,” George said, but Bree noticed a bit more color infuse his cheeks. It looked to her like her father and Esther may have a little romance going on.
“I wouldn’t think of it,” Trenton replied. He stood up and kissed George’s cheek before walking to the door and waiting for Bree to say Goodbye.
“I love you, Daddy,” she said as she bent down and clung to him, taking in a deep breath of his special dad's scent.
“I love you more than you could ever imagine. Now, promise me you aren’t going to worry about me. You need to be focused on my grandbaby.”
“I can’t promise not to worry just a little bit, but I do promise to take good care of this baby,” Bree said.
“I can settle for that,” George said with a small smile. “Now send in the troops.”
The nurse popped back in and looked at them.
“We’re leaving,” Trenton grumbled. She was quite the rule enforcer.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby. I need to use the bathroom,” Bree told him. He seemed about to stop her, so she rubbed her stomach as a reminder.
“Okay, but don’t take too long. I’m sure Chad’s already pacing the lobby while waiting for you to get back,” Trenton said. She realized her brother finally had respect for Chad. That was a good thing if there was any chance of him being her husband.
She turned down the hall and slipped in the bathroom, where she leaned against the door and took a deep breath. She allowed the tears to fall while she sank to the floor. It hadn’t been easy for her to see the strongest man she knew looking so frail.
She finally got up, washed her face and deemed herself ready to emerge. When she stepped from the bathroom, her body took her left instead of right, though. She didn’t want to head back to the lobby just yet. She needed a few more minutes before she faced the mob.
Bree turned a few corners and found herself lost. She knew that wasn’t good. Chad wasn’t going to be happy with her when she didn’t return right away. Well, he’d have to get over it. They were in a public hospital where nothing could happen to her. There were security cameras and policemen all over the place.
She found an exit sign and stepped through the door, taking a deep breath of fresh air. It was much better smelling than the antiseptic smell of the hospital. She stepped further out and looked around, trying to figure out where she was. It looked like she was on the backside of the building. She started walking along the covered breezeway, figuring she had a ways to go before she made it back to the E.R. entrance.
“Bree,” someone called. She tensed as she looked around. She was being ridiculous. There was no way any harm could come to her in a public place. There were people all around her.
“Bree,” the voice called again and she turned, sighing in relief when she saw Charlie running up to her.
“You scared me, Charlie,” she said with a relieved chuckle.
“Sorry about that. Everyone is looking for you. It seems you made the great escape,” Charlie said with the same grin she remembered from their childhood.
“I didn’t mean to. I just wanted a few minutes to myself before having to sit in the crowded waiting room again,” she explained.
“I understand. It’s still pretty intense in there. Do you want to walk down by the pond? I’ll send Trenton a text and let him know where we are so they stop worrying,” he offered. She knew she shouldn’t. Chad was going to be having a cow. But then she tensed her shoulders and decided she’d like that very much.
Chad was going to have to get used to her having a mind of her own. They were on hospital grounds and she wasn’t alone, she was with a family friend.
“That sounds perfect, Charlie. Make sure you let Trenton know, though, so the lecture isn’t too bad when we get back,” she said. Charlie took out his phone and typed in a message, before placing it back in his pocket.
Charlie stuck out his arm and Bree placed her hand through it and followed him along a flower strewn path. She could hear birds chirping and smiled in delight when a squirrel ran right in front of them and scaled a tree. It turned and made noises at them as if they were disturbing his home.
Bree laughed aloud at the expression on his face.
“I learned this hospital inside and out when my dad was here last year,” Charlie said as they moved further away from the hospital. The closer they came to the pond, the more peaceful Bree felt. She hadn’t realized how much stress the building placed on her.
“I heard about that, Charlie. I’m so sorry you lost him,” Bree responded. So many unnecessary deaths. His father had only been fifty when a truck driver had slammed into his small car, putting him in critical condition. He’d hung on for three months before his body finally gave out.
“It was a hard time,” Charlie said quietly. She squeezed his arm, offering her support.
They continued in silence until they reached a small stream that fed into a nice pond. There was a family of ducks swimming in it, and a couple benches on the side. No one else was around, which Bree was grateful for. She didn’t want to make small talk with strangers.
“I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Charlie murmured.
“I know, me either,” Bree replied, rubbing her hand across her flat stomach. If she had a bump, it would all seem more real.
“You know, I’d do anything for you, don’t you,” Charlie said as he turned and pulled her close to him. Bree started to feel a bit uncomfortable with the intimate gesture. She had to remind herself it was Charlie, Trenton’s best friend for more years than she could remember.
“I know, Charlie. You’re like a brother to me,” she answered as she tugged against him, trying to subtly let him know she wanted him to let go. Instead of responding to her signals, he pulled her tight against his body, and she felt her stomach turn when she felt his erection pressing against her.